Many state governments support transportation and logistics infrastructure development and legislation that facilitate business retention, investment, and expansion. Economic development efforts in Virginia, Iowa, Idaho, Utah, and Wisconsin demonstrate a variety of approaches to supporting in-state businesses.

Commentary

Demand for less-than-containerload (LCL) services is rising among global importer and exporters whose business models rely on cost, inventory control, and supply chain visibility. Greg Scott of CEVA Logistics discusses how the oil and gas, retail, and automotive industries are using LCL services to their advantage.

By highlighting the differences between an organization’s performance and a comparative reference standard, benchmarks can identify improvement opportunities and identify activities required to achieve superior performance.

Trucking load boards have evolved from bulletin boards in truck stops to sophisticated social networking-style tools on handheld computers. Charles Myers of uShip.com outlines the benefits of the evolved load board.

How-To

Companies can help guide legislators about laws and regulations that will impact their industry. Brian Everett of the National Shipper’s Strategic Transportation Council (NASSTRAC) recommends ways to communicate your business’s concerns to legislators.

Intermodal rail facilities located around the United States allow shippers to save transportation costs and move goods efficiently. Transportation infrastructure, a skilled workforce, logistics service providers, and affordable utilities support the manufacturing and distribution facilities located in these intermodal hubs.

With proper care and nurturing, you can create a supply chain that performs beautifully – even in the midst of today’s ever-changing business environment, writes Wendy Buxton, LynnCo Supply Chain Solutions.